Margaret Karembu, PhD.Director, ISAAA AfriCenter

Nairobi, KENYAmkarembu@isaaa.org

IFIC Foundation EXPO 2015 Communications SummitRome Italy, 20th May 2015

The Case for Agricultural Biotechnology

Presentation Overview

• THE GLOBAL CHALLENGE

• GLOBAL ADOPTION 1996-2014 (19 YEARS)

• PROGRES IN AFRICA

• LESSONS FROM ABBC-2015 ON EFFECTIVE MESSAGING

ISAAA---www.isaaa.org• A Not-for-Profit Charity, co-sponsored by

public and private sector organizations

• ISAAA is a Pro-Choice Organization

• Share knowledge on crop biotechnology FREELY whilst respecting the rights of others to make their own decisions

• Ensure global society is well informed about the attributes and potentials of crop biotech applications

ISAAA’s Global Knowledge Sharing Initiative (www.isaaa.org/kc)

Network of 24 Biotechnology Information Centers (BICs)

PhilippinesISAAA’s Global KC

Indonesia

Malaysia

Brazil

China

India

Egypt

Kenya

South Africa

ThailandMali

Pakistan

Russia

Bulgaria

Sri Lanka

Spain

ItalyJapan

Burkina Faso

Bangladesh

ISAAA AmeriCenter

Vietnam

Knowledge and Experience Sharing

Uganda

ISAAA is a Pro-Choice Organization

THE GLOBAL CHALLENGEDOUBLE food production by 2050 with

LESS resources: WATER, NITROGEN etc.

Population will reach 4 billion in 2100 in Africa, (currently: 1.1billion).

Where will the food come from?

Challenge cont……

The youth are shunning agriculture for white-collar jobs in cities

65% of Africa’s labour workforce is employed by agriculture

Ageing farmers – Declining number of farmers

Source: Clive James, 2014Superficies Based on FAO preliminary data for 2012.

M Acres

020406080

100120140160180200

82%Soybean

68%Cotton

30%Maize

25%Canola

04999

140198247296346395445494

111

37

184

36

ConventionalGM

Global adoption(%) of principalGM crops (M Hectares, M Acres), 2014

M Ha.

I S A A A

Biotech commercial

South Africa - Maize, cotton, soybean

Burkina Faso – Cotton

Sudan - Cotton

Pipeline Biotech crops CFTsRSA – maize, potatoes, sugarcane, Cameroon: cottonKenya – cassava, cotton, maize, sorghum, swetpotatoGhana- cotton, cowpea, riceEgypt – cotton, wheat, potato, cucumber, melonUganda - banana, cotton, cassava, maize, riceNigeria - cowpea,cassava,sorghum

Africa Status of Biotech Crops’ planting 2014

3 countries; 3 crops; 3.3Million hectares in 2014

Challenges in Agri-biotech Communication in Africa

Availability

Access

Packaging

Knowledge gaps

ABBC-2015Agri-biotech

and Biosafety Communication

Conference

Stock-taking on 2 decades of

biotech communication

Reaching out to FarmersLesson 1: Simplification of language

MESSAGING FOR FARMERS

• Increased productivity

• Reduced cost of production

• Increased environmental tolerance- DROUGHT

• Better marketsBest PracticesSeeing-is-believing study toursGenerate language with farmersMost effective channel is Radio

Create:FearAnxietyMistrust

Derails policy

Lesson 2: Mass media sensations…

Best practice: Media are key partners, enhance their capacity for accurate messaging

Best Practice:

Showcase successful case studies through seeing-is-believing

study tours

Build Champions for sustained political

support

Engage consistently!

Lesson 3: Messaging for Policy makers: Relevance

Production of Major Crops:Africa versus Global (2013)

Crop Year Maize Sorghum Pulses Banana Cassava

Yield (t/ha)2013(Africa)

2 0.9 0.6 11.3 11.5

2013 (Global)

5.4 1.4 0.9 21 13.5

Source: http://faostat3.fao.org Message: Africa needs all proven tools including

agri-biotech to raise productivity, encourage youth involvement and

create wealth in agriculture

Africa is a leader in ICT, can lead in Agri-biotechnologies too

Source: http://www.africaprogresspanel.org

Phenomenal penetration of

Mobile phones, INTERNET

Mobile money –MPESA a WINNER;